Fraserburgh goal fest humbles struggling Fort
IT WAS a difficult day for Lochaber football on Saturday as an injury-hit Fort William suffered one of their heaviest defeats in recent years.
Faced with an ever-growing injury list – amounting to almost a full team in itself – the Fort management knew that Saturday’s home tie against Fraserburgh was going to be tricky. Little could prepare them, however, for what they were about to experience as a Fraserburgh side firing on all cylinders showed no signs of mercy.
Gary Harris opened the day’s scoring for the Broch in seven minutes, signalling a stern warning to the Fort defence. Striker Paul Campbell added a second after 24 minutes before Ryan Sargent and Gary Harris scored before the half hour mark.
Not content with going into the half-time break four goals to the good, Fraserburgh made it five thanks to a Dean Cowie strike.
As the half-time whistle blew, the Fort management team had the unenviable task of trying to rouse the squad before another 45 minutes against a rampant Fraserburgh side. It was clear that the game was now lost for Fort William and damage limitation was now the aim for the second half.
Dean Cowie made was not going to be an easy task as he grabbed his second of the game shortly after the break. Less than 10 minutes later, midfielder Greg Buchan got on the score sheet before Jamie Beagrie made it 8-0 approaching the hour mark.
Continuing to batter the Fort William goal, the Broch forwards were relentless in their pursuit of goals and the Lochaber side had few answers to the waves of attacks.
Paul Campbell scored his second on 79 minutes before slotting away a penalty to complete his hat-trick and round-off the scoring for Fraserburgh in the final minute of the match.
The double-figure thumping consigns Fort William to a ninth straight defeat in what has been a difficult start to the season for the Lochaber men. The team prop up the foot of the Highland league with a solitary point and a goal difference of -36.
Fort didn’t have long to lick their wounds this week as they faced an away trip to Forres Mechanics last night (Wednesday).
On Saturday, the Fort are in league action again as they welcome Deveronvale to Claggan Park. A win could lift the Fort off the bottom of the table.